Chain-Gang All-Stars

by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Criminal Action Penal Entertainment (CAPE for short) allows inmates to fight (to the death) for a chance at early release. Either you die, or you survive three years of brutal fights and earn your freedom.

Which would you choose?

Loretta Thurwar and Hamara (Hurricane Staxxx) Stacker are two of the biggest names out there right now. They are close to earning their freedom – especially Thurwar. Their lethality cannot be overlooked, and the fans love them. Or do they?

My Review:

Wow. If you're looking for a book that will hit you hard, it's gotta be Chain-Gang All-Stars. This book is everything. It's political and social commentary. It's a modern dystopia. It's a bloody battle. You name it, and it's probably here.

Naturally, that means there's a lot to unpack in Chain-Gang All-Stars. Aside from the overall plot, my favorite part of the book would have to be Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah's annotations. There are a lot of dark but real facts included in this book, and their insertion helps to drive certain points home. It was so well done.

This novel has a dozen (at least?) different perspectives. Thurwar and Staxxx hold the most weight, as they come up the most, but many other perspectives help flesh out the world. In truth, I think this was the one part I didn't love. While I enjoyed seeing differing perspectives, their sheer number made me feel lost for a time or two. Otherwise, this is a phenomenal book and absolutely worth the read.

Highlights:
Gladiator-esque
Modern Dystopia
LGBTQ+
Full of Ethical Debates and Points

Trigger Warnings:
Racism
Graphic/Violence
Sexual Assault/Rape
Police Brutality
Suicide Mentioned

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